Topics

Cody began the call by welcoming everyone back from the summer recess and thanked the HCC for taking the time out of their busy schedules to participate in the call. He then gave his report.

II. AVCA Update (Leah)

Leah gave a brief update on things going on at the AVCA. This included:

Convention registration opened on August 19

Headquarters hotel is the Tampa Marriott Waterside.Reservations can be made beginning on August 19. Cost at Marriott Waterside is $135 for single and $145 for double

AVCA also has room blocks at the Westin Harbour Island ($119 for single/double) and Howard Johnson Plaza ($99 for single/double).

The AVCA understands this is a difficult budget year so in addition to the hotel discounts available the AVCA has also negotiated discounts with several transportation providers including Northwest, Continental and American on airfare, Hertz on rental cars and SuperShuttle for transportation to and from the airport. Also new this year, the AVCA has contracted with a company called SpaceShare to assist coaches with finding hotel roommates as well as assist in finding other coaches to share ground transportation. Information on the hotel and transportation discounts as well as the SpaceShare program can be found in the convention section of the AVCA Web site.

The pre-convention seminar this year will be "Mastering the Art of Volleyball Recruiting" led by recruiting expert Dan Tudor. The session will be held from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16. Topics covered will include what the millennial generation wants and why it should matter to you, the seven mistakes you might be making, spiking your prospect's objections every time and the seven secrets to successful recruiting. If you are talking with high school and club coaches please let them know there will be information included in this session on how to get your student-athletes recruited on a more consistent basis and how to attract players to your local program.

The AVCA Golf Tournament will be held on Wednesday, December 16 at Bay Palms Golf Course. The bus will depart at 7 a.m. and return approximately 2 p.m. The golf tournament includes green fees, cart, warm-up range, transportation to/from the golf course and a buffet lunch. Participants can choose to form their own team or be placed on a team by the AVCA. Prizes will be awarded for winning teams, longest drive and closest to the pin. More information can be found in the convention section of the AVCA Web site.

Also in AVCA news:

The AVCA just put the wraps on its first Member Appreciation Month. During each week in the month of August, the AVCA highlighted different member benefits. The AVCA also held a weekly drawing for those who participated in and gave feedback each week. At the end of August, the AVCA will select one grand prize winner who will receive a convention registration and travel prize package (a $345 value). All current, renewed and new members will be placed into this drawing.

If you have any webcast matches, please send them to the AVCA Media Relations staff.

The AVCA is still in need of Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll voters for the 2009 season from the following regions: Midwest, Atlantic, East.

The AVCA editorial staff is always looking for technical/educational articles and drills for use in PowerTips and Coaching Volleyball magazine. If you have something you would like to submit, or are interested in writing for a future publication, please contact Leah (leah.brock@avca.org).

III. Chair Reports (Cody)

1. We are trying to spruce up the Division II HCC page on the AVCA website and would like to have every member's photo on the page. Please send a headshot to Leah by the next meeting.

2. Division II Representation at 2009 AVCA Convention in Tampa: Lynze Roos from Lynn University will be presenting this year in one of the convention's panel sessions. Please come out and support her and Division II volleyball.

3. Management Council Decisions:

Playing season reductions ...from 28 to 26 matches

Men's and women's basketball was also reduced

Moving the season start date up a week

All will be voted on in January....the changes will come into effect for the 2010-11 season

Bren Stevens: the legislative and championship committees met in June and will meet again this coming June to look into possible further reductions in playing dates or exempted dates (i.e. alumni games)

Possible cuts to non-championship season (practice dates, etc.)

Met with national SAAC to hear their recommendations

Hears that there will be more cuts

The legislation that we have currently would go into effect for August 2010. Any additional cuts would take effect in 2011.

Haven't heard mention of cutting playing season dates even further.

Debbie Hendricks: Did they retain the provision for the schools that start school the same time athletes report for camp?

Bren: Yes. That will still be in effect.

Cody: Happy to hear that SAAC had a voice.

Kathy DeBoer: What's worked relatively well is to try to be proactive and to try to get data out to people ahead of decisions being made on what's being cut. What are the things that we need to do to try to have a good argument on why non-traditional season play is something that can be preserved? SAAC will probably stay strong and side with us on that. It looks as if most schools are spending 5% or less of their travel budget on spring play. That counters the argument about saving a lot of money by cutting the spring season. I think the strategy is to get with soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and cross country coaches, and fight this on the basis of gender. If you would eliminate non-traditional play, it effects 33% of female athletes in Division II and only 15% percent of men. Be open to cost reductions where there are abuses (ex. put mileage limit on travel, use ground transportation, etc.).

Bren: President's Council really wants to make cuts. We have to take our hits. The fall season sports really seemed to take a lot of hits, and I hope that the next time around maybe the winter or spring season will take more of the hits.

4. Championship Info: Championship regional advisory committees met. The regional formats were left relatively unchanged. The exception being if 7 teams would have to fly to the regional site. Example, if BYU-Hawaii was to win the region and no other teams were from Hawaii, there might be an exception.

IV. Additional Agenda Items

A.) Timing of the release of the AVCA Coaches Top-25 Preseason Poll: Cody asked the HCC if they had any thoughts on the timing of when the Preseason Poll is released. Leah advised that the AVCA is already looking at moving the release date up at least one week, along with Division I. The Division III poll release date will stay the same. Leah also advised the committee that the Preseason Poll was released later to accommodate several poll voters.

Cody wrapped up the meeting by again thanking the HCC members for taking the time to be on the call.